It’s a rainy Thursday in March 2019, and Caroline Pugh-Roberts makes her way to the Western University campus. She’s speaking at an event hosted by the Abolition Project Against Human Trafficking.

With her are three girls, all women she knows from her years of community advocacy. They affectionately refer to her as their “adoptive mom.”

For Pugh-Roberts, sharing her experiences has become cathartic. When she tells her story, she speaks with the confidence and comfort of a close friend. It’s a stark contrast to the horrors she’s endured.

She’s come a long way from the first time spoke publicly. Talking so candidly about her life has become Pugh-Roberts’ daily norm. Today, she has the ability to bring people closer to an issue that often feels so far removed from everyday life in London, Ont.